Jean Paul Spa & Salons is investing between $600,000 and $900,000 in a third location, this one in Newton Plaza in Loudonville.

The new salon is currently occupied by a competitor, Rumors Salon and Spa. Rumors is building a $3 million spa, salon and office complex just north of its current locations, opposite one another at 594 and 595 New Loudon Road.

Jean Claude Simille, owner of Jean Paul Spa & Salons, tentatively plans to open the new 4,500-square-foot salon and spa in the summer of 2012.

It’s expected to add 30 to 40 more jobs.

The commercial corridor, which borders expensive homes in the high-end Loudonville suburb, can sustain two upscale salons, Simille said.

“We’re very confident that the location is an excellent one. It’s proven, and we feel that it can support both of us,” he said.

Simille and his wife, Anne Marie Simille, own and operate two separate Jean Paul’s salon and spa locations in Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland. The shops generated $5.3 million in revenue in 2010.

Tony Rametra is the former CEO of a Colonie software development and consulting company, Atec Group. That business was acquired in 2009 and now operates as GSS Infotech. Rametra is chief strategist at GSS.

Tony Rametra will handle the salon’s finances; Simille will run front-of-the-house operations.

Simille said they are not yet sure if they will borrow money from a bank.

“In all likelihood, we would borrow at least some of it,” he said.

They will remodel the existing 3,000-square-foot Rumors and some adjoining space.

Simille said he and Tony Rametra were approached about the space in Newton Plaza by Schuyler Realty, the plaza’s landlord, after Rumors announced plans to build at 626 Loudon Road.

Simille said he then notified Rumors owners Marri Aviza and Lisa Norgrove of his plans to move into their existing space when Rumors moves into its new building.

“We indicated we were hoping for a very friendly competition,” Simille said.

Aviza shared those sentiments.

“There’s enough business for everyone. Competition is good. It makes us stronger, sharper at our game. I think it will be something that will be good for both businesses in the long run,” she said.

Rumors, with $3.3 million in revenue in 2010, is consolidating its Rumors Salon and Spa for women, Rumors IV Men and corporate offices under a single roof. Currently, the entities are located in three separate buildings, all within close walking distance of each other.

The three salon owners have known each other for 25 years.

In fact, Aviza said that she and Norgrove reached out to Simille, then in business for 11 years, to get a sense of the local salon market before they opened Rumors in 1987.

The Loudonville Jean Paul Salon & Spa will offer hair services and retail hair products, a private men’s styling area and a limited number of spa services.

Simille, 74, wants to open at least four more salons in the Capital Region.

pallen@bizjournals.com | 518-640-6812 | Twitter: @pambizreview

Allen covers education, restaurants, transportation and nonprofits.

Industries:

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.